Kid Partners- Creative Therapy Services for Kids
P.O Box 31786
St. Louis, MO
ph:
fax:
KidPartn
Expressive Arts-based Occupational Therapy
Children are innately creative, imaginative beings. Trauma, disease processes, developmental delays, behavioral/mental health issues, or external circumstances, however, can thwart this natural flow of creativity causing a diminished sense of self. Expressive Art experiences engage children in their natural learning occupation (play) to:
- Learn coping skills and self regulation in response to various art “stumbling blocks”
- Use images/creative writing as a “journey”, transforming the atypical experience
- Improve self esteem, self awareness and confidence through exploration within an open playing field of possibilities, naturally found in self-expression
- Improve creative thinking that can be used in everyday life skills
- Develop skills that provide a sense of purpose
- Intrinsic to the process though not the focus: improved motor functioning, eye-hand coordination, kinesthetic/ proprioceptive awareness and sensory modulation
- Develop compassion for self/others and build an atmosphere of social support
Laurie Ritchie, Occupational Therapist & Certified Expressive Arts specialist. She has 7+years experience in Occupational Therapy within the school system and home health, ages infant thru high school, and 3+ years in mental health with adolescents and adults.
It has been shown that change most rapidly occurs when we are actively engaged in an activity that has purpose and meaning. Providing experiences for the child that is therapeutically creative to allow self expression (just plain FUN!) can have dramatic effect and carry-over to daily life.
Favorite Links:
Girl Scout Badge Opportunities using Kid Partners Expressive Arts
Child Art Therapy-- How Does it Work? Psychology Today
Kid Partners- Creative Therapy Services for Kids
P.O Box 31786
St. Louis, MO
ph:
fax:
KidPartn